Independence's Nick Holt finds distraction-free living in assistant coach's home

DES MOINES — Life inside the home of Independence assistant wrestling coach Keith Donnelly isn't complicated, but it is disciplined. That's the appeal.

Nick Holt, the Mustangs' 170-pound senior, wasn't wrestling the way he wanted to as the postseason drew closer, so after the conference tournament, he had a talk with his family and then sent a text to Donnelly.

Holt asked to live in Donnelly's home, get away from the distractions and realize his goal of winning a Class 2A state championship. Holt took one step closer to that goal Friday night, using a reversal in the closing seconds to beat GHV's Conner Shaw and earn a spot in Saturday's final.

'I decided I needed a little change,' Holt said. 'I needed somebody to keep me on track and he was willing to take me in and make sure I was doing the right things to get ready for the tournament.'

In the last eight years of Donnelly's career at Independence, about five wrestlers have lived with him at his home through parts — and sometimes all — of the season for various reasons, so Holt didn't catch him off guard.

Holt lived with Donnelly for a brief period as a junior too so when he moved back in a few weeks ago, he knew what was in store. Early bedtimes, devoted time for homework and home cooked meals were a part of the deal, but it was all part of a larger purpose.

'If you're trying to perform at the highest level and your goal is to ultimately win a state championship, there's a lot of little things outside of a wrestling room you need to do right,' Donnelly said. 'It's making sure that all the little things add up.'

Donnelly doesn't have Internet or cable, so free time in the past has consisted of playing Super Mario Bros. or ice fishing. Rarely does the conversation or focus shift to wrestling at home.

Chase Straw, 2015 152-pound state champion and ISU wrestling team member, lived with Donnelly for 3 1/2 years while at Independence and called the living situation an oasis of distraction-free living. Once he was able to get into a routine, Holt didn't struggle with the expectations of living there.

'It's kind of nice and relaxing and really just kind of takes my mind off everything else other than what I need to be doing so I can get ready for life after wrestling and high school,' Holt said.

Each situation Donnelly has taken on is different from another, but it's always been rewarding. What he's hoping he can help do is teach things that go beyond wrestling.

'For me it's not about them saying thanks,' Donnelly said. 'For me it's seeing them accomplish their goals or work toward their goals and know that the decisions they've made in the last however many weeks or months have paid off.'

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